Wednesday, April 30, 2008

The magic of enthusiasm can work magic in your life. Its powerful effect can remake your very existence.

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

TODAY’S ACTION

Support one another with the spirit of strength and peace

TODAY’S QUOTE

You will be happier if you give a piece of your heart instead of a piece of your mind to those who oppose you.

Author Unknown

HAPPY WEDNESDAY !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR SUNSHINE BOY!

It seems impossible that he is 5 years old now. How fast they grow.

I got together with my dulcimer buddies last night and there was very little music being played as we talked a lot catching up on things since the last time we got together. It had been since before Christmas so there was a lot to say. We are all glad decent weather has come once more.

Work has been really pretty quiet even though we have most of our men working again. I often think I could do everything in 3 days instead of 5, but then they depend on me to be there for phone calls etc. As they are in and out so much someone has to be there the rest of the time.

As I do everything on SLOW time anyway, its probably a good thing I have a pretty easy job.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…Yo-Yo Day

Yo-yos may be the world's oldest toys. 3,000 year old stone yo-yos have been found in Greece , and ivory yo-yos were made in China about 1000 B.C. Popular with the French royal court and in Victorian England, they came to the U.S. with the emigrants. Three presidents (Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon) publicly displayed their skill - and in 1992, a yo-yo went into space with astronaut Jeffry Hoffman on the space shuttle Atlantis

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Honesty Day, a day to celebrate honesty and honor those who are honest in their dealings with others

Today is Tax Freedom Day, two days later than last year, when the average American has to work in 2007 to pay federal, state, and local taxes. Your state may vary

Today is National Oatmeal Cookie Day

Today is Love Your Lawn Day

Today is International Walk Day, a day to walk wherever you go, for the exercise and just to enjoy the outdoors

1904: John T. Benson Jr. was born. He would become president of Heartwarming Music in Nashville and write the hymn "Love Lifted Me. "

1938: That wascally wabbit Bugs Bunny first appeared on screen in the cartoon "Porky's Hare Hunt," directed by "Bugs" Hardaway for Warner Brothers. Mel Blanc, who did Bugs’ voice, was allergic to carrots

1952: The first toy was advertised on television—Mr. Potato Head

TODAY’S SMILE

Two mothers are having a conversation about their children one day. "How do you get your Marvin up so early on school mornings?" asks Joan. "Oh, that's easy," replies Marianne. "I just throw the cat on his bed."

"Why does that wake him up?"

"He sleeps with the dog!

ONE MORE…

A honeymooning couple was passing through Louisiana . When they were approaching Lafayette , they started arguing about the pronunciation of the town. They argued back and forth until they got to the town, where they decided to stop for lunch.

As they stood at the counter, the man said, "Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us. Would you very slowly pronounce where we are".

The guy behind the corner leaned over and said,

"Burrrrrrrr gerrrrrrr Kiiiiing"

TODAY’S WORD

gimcrack \JIM-krak\, noun:

1. A showy but useless or worthless object; a gewgaw.

adjective: 1. Tastelessly showy; cheap; gaudy.

The origin of gimcrack is uncertain. It is perhaps an alteration of Middle English gibecrake, "a slight or flimsy ornament

TODAY’S REFLECTION

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple, and give thanks to your name.

Psalm 138: 1-2

Today we echo the sentiments of the psalmist.

Although we have ups and downs in our lives (sometimes it seems all down), we still know that you hold us in the palm of your hand and that we have been created by you in love. It is so wonderful to be alive and to know about you, so able to talk to you and listen to you in love.

You live in our inmost selves, helping and re-creating us continually. We can only say, humbly, thank you Lord.

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

To brighten faded carpets, wipe them vigorously with a cloth that has been dipped in a strong salt solution and then wrung out

51 DAYS TIL SUMMER !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Enjoying the joys of others and suffering with them--these are the best guides for man.

Albert Einstein

TODAY’S ACTION

Encourage the hearts of people around you simply by being there

TODAY’S QUOTE

True happiness may be sought, thought, or caught -- but never bought.

Author Unknown

HAPPY TUESDAY !!

BRRRCHILL! Winter is paying us a visit here in northern Ohio . They are saying we could see a little snow mix but not much and we will have a good chance for a heavy frost over night.

My little lilac bush may not bloom after all. It is just loaded with buds ready to pop open right now.

On my calendar this week after work is dulcimer with my friends tonight and my Bible study on Thursday evening and then nothing til the weekend. I’m planning on heading to the camper after work Friday and then return home Sunday morning where I’ll meet up with DS#5 and his wife and then head for the 2nd First Communion we have in our family this year.

Our Star will have his First Communion Sunday afternoon and it is our Angel’s birthday so it will be a double celebration. It will be a lot of traveling in one day for sure.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…QUILT LOVERS DAY

Quilting is sewing two layers of fabric together with filling in the middle. It originated in ancient times when people wore quilted garments for warmth and protection. A written record of bed quilts date back to the 12th century, and a quilt survives from the 1400's in England . The first quilts in the U.S. were appliquéd by early colonists, but it was the patchwork quilt that became the most popular form of quilting in America

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Shrimp Scampi Day

Today is National Dance Day, a part of World Dance Week. Time to boogie

Today is Zipper Day. Godeon Sundbach of Hoboken , New Jersey , patented the zipper fastener on this day in 1913

Today is National Warm Weather Lunch Hour Appreciation Day

The man who became one of the twentieth century’s finest composers, Edward Kennedy Ellington, was born on this day in 1899 in Washington , D.C

1879 - Electric arc lights were used for the first time -- in Cleveland , OH

1974: Phil Donahue’s TV talk show moved from Dayton , Ohio , to Chicago , where it would win nine Emmy Awards in 11 years before moving to New York City in 1985.

We find so many things about which to worry — will it storm tomorrow? Will I get a good job? Will he have an accident? Will the bills get paid? We waste so much time worrying that we make ourselves miserable. One of the worst things worry will do is to prevent you from sleeping.

The best remedy, when you find yourself lying awake worrying, is to get up and do something. You can read a book, watch TV — or best of all, read a favorite Bible passage. It will get your mind off your worry, calm you down and very likely you will be able to go to sleep when you return to your bed

The Bible tells us, Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts, offer your prayers and requests to God. And after you offer prayers to the Lord, let go of the requests and listen for God's guidance. Then your actions will bring good results.

Monday, April 28, 2008

The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.

Eric Hoffer

TODAY’S ACTION

Hold on to what is good

TODAY’S QUOTE

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Author Unknown

HAPPY MONDAY!

BACK TO WORK

It won’t be so bad for me working all week now as I now have a reward to look forward to each weekend. The camping is my reward and I just love it.

I was surprised on Sunday afternoon to look up and see my ‘old camping buddy’ and her husband at the campground. They looking around and hopefully found a spot to come camping on Memorial Day weekend.

It will be nice to have them there, almost like old times. For many years we camped together and had many happy days soaking up the sun.

I put lots of pictures of this past weekend in my ‘Good Morning Sunshine’ journal if you want to take a look. Each week now things are greening up and we’ve been blessed with 3 nice weekends in a row.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU!

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TODAY IS…SMALL CAR DAY

Small cars were offered for sale in the U.S. for the first time on this day in 1939. Actually, these little cars would make today’s compact cars look like land yachts! Imagine a car that sold for $325, was 10-feet long, had an 80-inch wheelbase and a four-gallon gas tank. We just described the Crosley which became fairly popular back in 1939 -- but wouldn’t survive. The little Crosley fought an uphill battle and was replaced less than 15 years later by the popular German Volkswagen Beetle.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Blueberry Pie Day

Today is Workers Memorial Day in the U.S. and National Day of Mourning in Canada for workers killed or injured on the job. It's Confederate Memorial Day in Alabama and Mississippi

1788 - Maryland was one of the first of the United States of America , entering the Union as number seven on this day. It was named in honor of England ’s Charles I’s queen, Henrietta Maria. Maryland ’s capital city, Annapolis , is famous as the home of the U.S. Naval Academy. Maryland, the Free State or Old Line State, calls the black-eyed Susan its state flower, and the Baltimore Orioles are the .... Maryland ’s state sport is jousting. " Maryland , My Maryland" is the official state song.

1789 - There truly was mutiny on the Bounty. A rebel crew took over the British ship and set sail to Pitcairn Island . A popular book about the event has been passed down generation to generation as one of the classic works of literature.

1947 - Explorer Thor Heyerdahl set sail from the Peruvian coast in the 45-foot Kon Tiki. The 4,300-mile voyage concluded 101 days later. Heyerdahl wrote a popular book about the ordeal called Kon Tiki.

TODAY’S SMILE

I've started an exercise program. I do 20 sit-ups each morning. That may not sound like a lot, but you can only hit that snooze button so many times

ONE MORE…

A new mom took her baby daughter to the supermarket for the first time. She dressed her in pink from head to toe. At the store, she placed her in the shopping cart and put her purchases around her.

At the checkout line a small boy and his mother were ahead of them. The boy was crying and begging for some special treat. The new mom assumed that he wanted some candy or gum and that his mother wouldn't let him have any.

But then she heard his mother's reply. "No!" she said, looking in the direction of the new mom. "You may not have a baby sister today. That lady got the last one!"

TODAY’S WORD

posit \POZ-it\, transitive verb:

1. To assume as real or conceded.

2. To propose as an explanation; to suggest.

3. To dispose or set firmly or fixedly.

Posit is from Latin positus, past participle of ponere, "to put, to place, to set.

There is little in this life that wears us down and saps our energy as much as worry. The fear of the unknown leads us to worry, and too often paralyzes us from moving forward as those parents do.

Another form of worry that drains us of our energy and enthusiasm is the worrying that the truths we believe are actually illusions. So how do we drop those burdens that we insist on strapping on our backs? How do we move from a place of step and drag our worries to the freedom to move freely toward our dreams and goals

Prayer is the answer! When we come before God the Father with all that we carry, acknowledging that we do not have to carry these burdens with us, then we can lay them at his feet, lighten our load, and move with energy and grace that we could not have any other way

Being in conversation with the Lord though prayer reminds us of all his promises. You are forced to face the fact that God does not leave you. That in Him all things are possible. That He will provide us we all that we need, and that He knows exactly what that is. Think about those facts for a moment. It’s like a cup of coffee to the soul!

Friday, April 25, 2008

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable

Helen Keller

TODAY’S ACTION

Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them.

TODAY’S QUOTE

A smile is the lighting system of the face,

the cooling system of the head and

the heating system of the heart

HAPPY FINALLY F R I DAY!

I wish I could say that I’m headed for the camper after work today, but I’m not. This evening I’ll be home and will try to bake a cake for our Princess’ party tomorrow. She’ll make her first communion tomorrow and there will be a little celebration afterward. I’ll be leaving early tomorrow morning so that I can get to their house before they leave for church so that I can leave my beagle there.

After the little party, and if the weather is ok, I’ll head to the camper. We’ll see… The weather here has just been beautiful all week long. So many times they said we might get rain, but we didn’t. Everything is growing, getting green and blooming too.

We even have those little yellow things blooming in the grass. Dandelions are pretty and bright, but I really don’t need them in my yard for sure.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU!

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TODAY IS…TUNA SANDWICH DAY

Is tuna fish about to replace peanut butter and jelly as everyone's favorite sandwich filling? It looks like the answer is "yes"! Canned tuna has been around for 100 years and is a staple in 85% of American kitchens. A rich source of protein, it's also low-fat and has lots of other nutrients. But, for sandwich lovers, versitility is the key. Starting with a base of tuna and mayonnaise, you can go on a sandwich adventure. Almost anything can be blended with tuna.

Experiment

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Arbor Day, a day to honor and plant trees since 1872

Today is Duck Appreciation Day. Go ahead, feed the ducks

Today is National Zucchini Bread Day

1928: The first guide dog was trained to help a blind owner. Buddy, a German Shepherd, became the companion of Morris Frank

1954 - The prototype manufacture of a new solar battery was announced by the Bell Laboratories in New York City

1959 - The St. Lawrence Seaway opened to traffic, saving shippers millions of dollars. By going from the sea to the Great Lakes across upstate New York , folks no longer had to ship goods the long, costly over land

TODAY’S SMILE

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all prayers to God are received."

I looked around in this area, seeing every prayer routed directly to God. Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section. The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the prayer answers - the graces and blessings the people asked for are sent directly to those who asked for them."

So many blessings were being packaged for delivery to Earth. Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. "This is the Acknowledgment Section," my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed. "How is it that? There's no work going on here?" I asked. "So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.”

How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked. "Simple," the angel answered. "Just say, "Thank you, Lord" "What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.” If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that.

Also If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day." "If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death ... you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world."

TODAY’S WORD

winsome \WIN-suhm\, adjective:

1. Cheerful; merry; gay; light-hearted.

2. Causing joy or pleasure; agreeable; pleasant

Winsome is from Old English wynsum, from wynn, "joy" + -sum (equivalent to Modern English -some), characterized by

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

John 14:12-14

Jesus says that he will do whatever we ask as long as it is in keeping with who he is and what he is doing. Jesus reminds us that the reason he says "yes" to us is so that God can be seen for who God is

Jesus wants to do for us everything he can to help us become the people we were created to be and to continue the work he began. When we ask with a desire to fulfill God’s call upon our lives, Jesus says "yes" so that we can be the best we can be.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.

Lin Yutang

HAPPY THURSDAY!

I tried to get all the laundry done last night after work and managed to vacuum the downstairs.. Tonight is my Bible study so I won’t get much done at home. Friday evening I can finish up what is needed .

Today will still be a warm one, but rain is expected. We didn’t get any at all yesterday.

The laptop is working just fine and I’m enjoying it here at home. I still need to download more graphics so today’s are about the same as yesterday’s.

After today just one more day of work for this week.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TODAY IS…CIRCUS CIRCUS DAY

Circuses are the most enduring form of entertainment in the world. In the Roman days, they featured wild animal duels and chariot races. During the middle ages, a circus meant traveling troupes that stopped in the marketplace with trained animals and acrobats. The kind of circus we know today began as a way to show fancy riding. Clowns were added to fill the time between riders, and the modern circus was on its way

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is National Teach the Children to Save Day

Today is National Pigs in a Blanket Day

1800: Congress approved a bill creating the Library of Congress

1981: The IBM Personal Computer was introduced

2005: Pope Benedict-16 was formally installed as leader of the Roman Catholic Church in ceremonies at the Vatican

TODAY’S SMILE

Deficient Noun Disease

1. Do you commonly find yourself calling your children by the wrong name, and feel like kicking yourself for spending so much time selecting just the right name for each child?

2. Do you find yourself saying to your child, "Sure, I know where you left your cookie." It's on the long white horizontal surface in the kitchen... you know, the one with the thing we cook with on one end and the thing we put stuff into keep it cold on the other end? Um... there's a sink in it?"

3. Do you tell people on the phone that you'll be happy to take a message, just as soon as you find a "message-writing-down thingamabob?"

4. In fact, do all the nouns in your vocabulary, nouns which have been your friends and companions since you were two years old, suddenly become "thingies" when you are under pressure? You may be suffering from deficient noun disease.

5. Deficient noun disease, or DND, is a common affliction among mothers of small children (older children too). While not a dangerous illness, DND is an exasperating and frustrating one which increases in severity in direct proportion to the number of children in the household.

6. Common symptoms of DND include the following: Calling children by each other's names, forgetting the proper names for common household objects, and casually referring to other adults not as "John and Jane" but as "those people with the pool who barbecue every Friday." Another common symptom is the frequent use of the WRONG noun in a given situation, rather like mild aphasia. Someone with this particular type of DND might say, "Put your plate on the stove...I mean on the counter... I mean ON THE TABLE!"

7. A less common symptom displayed by some DND sufferers is an ailment also referred to as the "Crossword" Syndrome. With this particular type of DND-related illness, the affected person might declare, "Oh, yes, I know her name. Let's see... it starts with an "S", has five letters...."

8. DND, although virtually untreatable and incurable, can still be endured with a minimum of pain and embarrassment if the afflicted person makes use of the following handy coping mechanisms:

9. One method of coping with the disease involves the clever use of nicknames, which can easily apply to any individual in the family, like "Dear" or "Sweetheart". This method breaks down when the DND sufferer is faced with the necessity of differentiating between individuals, or when she is talking to several people at one time, so the use of group nicknames, like referring to everyone in the room as "Y'all", a common Southern coping mechanism, is recommended.

10. Another good way to conceal DND from your friends and family members is to develop the habit of pausing in your sentences when reaching a crucial noun. If the pause is long enough, the other individual will attempt to guess the noun for you, and you need only respond in the affirmative when the correct noun is reached. Although this method may take time, it certainly adds suspense to an otherwise ordinary conversation.

11. The information available on DND is still patchy and incomplete, due to the unnecessary shame felt by many mothers who do not realize that this illness is widespread and quite common. Very few mothers are able to call their children by name, and it is difficult for them to believe that the time invested in picking out those names was, to put it bluntly, wasted. When education has removed the stigma from the minds of all women, this disease might very well be shown to be the most common affliction in human history.

12. The cause of DND is not yet known; some scientists believe that using a word over 100,000 times in the course of a lifetime may simply fade that word from long-term memory; mothers simply reach the lifetime limit earlier because they must repeat themselves so often. Other scientists hold up the two-year old child as proof positive that the repetition of a word more than 100,000 times (in this case, the word Mommy) does not cause selective noun amnesia.

13. Although modern science may never be able to cure DND or discover what exactly causes it, we as mothers and fellow sufferers can still help one another to recognize the illness and learn to live in harmony with it. The next time you hear yourself shouting, "CLAUDIA-CODY-BETSY-LOGAN-JILL .... YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! GET IN HERE!", you can comfort yourself with the knowledge that mothers all over the world are doing the same thing.

Ubiquitous derives, via French, from Latin ubique, "everywhere," from ubi, "where." The noun form is ubiquity

TODAY’S REFLECTION

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

II Corinthians 3:18

When you get up in the morning and look in the mirror, whose face you see? Yours, of course. Today's scripture verse made me realize that when we humans look in our "spiritual mirror," we also see — ourselves.

We are selfish and tend to think, "It's all about me." But when you look in that spiritual mirror and see the glory of the Lord, you take your mind off yourself and begin to think like the Christ.

As you begin to think about loving others, you get the JOY that comes from putting Jesus first, Others next and You last. You begin to reflect the glory of the Lord to others and they are blessed by your presence.

Life is complicated and filled with many distractions. Don’t allow them to take your mind off your "spiritual mirror." Look in your mirror every morning and say with confidence, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterward.

Kurt Vonnegut

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

I put together my newsletter for today using my laptop that DS#4 fixed for me. He managed to help me update all my files over the phone last night so that I could send out my newsletter on it. I owe him a BIG THANK YOU for sure. I had to copy over some graphics too so it took a bit longer, but eventually I’ll have everything back on it.

We had another nice day with temps up in the 70’s and sunny yesterday but today we may see a little rain. After that we’ll return to sunny weather til the weekend…then it is supposed to rain.

There may not be any camping this weekend. We’ll see…

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TODAY IS…GARLIC BREATH DAY

Garlic was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians, chewed by Greek Olympian atheletes and thought to drive vampires away. It's also good for keeping your heart healthy and warding off colds. With all of these benefits, who's going to worry about a little bad breath!

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Administrative Professionals Day. It was once called Secretaries Day.

Today is National Cherry Cheesecake Day

Today is World Book and Copyright Day, sponsored by the United Nations

33: According to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, marking this date as the first Easter. (Other sources put the year at 29 A.D., pointing to a four year mistake in the Gregorian calendar.)

1564: This date is believed to be the birthdate of English poet and dramatist William Shakespeare; he died 52 years later, also on April 23.

TODAY’S SMILE

When Haley started kindergarten, she was really excited when she had finally learned all of the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. She would recite it whenever she had the chance. It did, however, take people awhile to convince her that she had the ending wrong. Haley insisted on reciting, "...with liberty and justice for all, you may be seated."

ONE MORE…

Mary sat down with her two year-old Granddaughter, Faith, to rock her to sleep at nap time. Her normally radiant countenance turned to a little frown because she wanted to play with grandma instead of napping.

That morning in Faith’s quiet time Mary had read about smiles, so Mary just kept smiling. In a few seconds Faith looked at her grandma again and the frown had turned to a smile. She reached up and hugged her grandma. Mary knew the smile had done it.

Lionize, comes from lion, in the sense of a person of great interest or importance

TODAY’S REFLECTION

The Lord is my light and my salvation -- Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1

There are many times in life that are scary. It could be something as small as leading a Sunday school class or as large as being on a plane in a storm. We can't avoid fear and sometimes it is even good to be afraid, such as fear of getting too close to an open fire lest you get burnt.

It isn't the moment of fear that harms you. It is allowing fear to take control. You have to control it.

…"be not afraid" appears 325 times in the New Testament and was Jesus' most frequent commandment. God doesn't want fear to control us. Fear has always been around and it takes courage to overcome it.

You have to confront fear and conquer it. And if you take a risk, trusting in God, he will help you. God is utterly dependable! When you have done all you can, it is time to relax and leave the rest to the Lord.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.

Shakespeare

TODAY’S ACTION

Diminish doubt and increase your faith

TODAY’S QUOTE

The essential sadness is to go through life without loving. But it would be almost equally sad to leave this world without ever telling those you loved that you love them.

Author Unknown

HAPPY TUESDAY !!

I made it through another Monday and that’s a good thing. I think my brain was running on slow time however. It’s very hard to get back in the work frame of mind after a weekend camping.

The weather has continued to be just beautiful. We had a few clouds, but mostly sunshine yesterday and should have mostly sun today. It has been just glorious and just what this tired old body needs for sure.

I did talk to DS#4 on Sunday evening and they are planning to make a trip up the week of the 4th of July and spend the week at the camper. I hope to be there all but 2 or 3 days as I’ll have to work on Monday and Tuesday and maybe Wednesday.

On my calendar for this week is:

Bible Study on Thursday and then nothing but work until Saturday when I go to our Princess’ First Communion Celebration. It is a very special day for her.

After visiting with them for awhile I’ll be off to the camper once more (weather permitting) and thenreturn home late Sunday afternoon. If it happens to rain I’ll be home sooner. We’ll see…

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. GOD BLESS YOU !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…JUST SALUTE DAY

Saluting comes from a tradition that belonged to the medieval knights. Shaking hands was the way to show you carried no hidden weapons. Pulling up the visor of your armor to show your face was just as important - it showed you were a a friend. This became the widespread custom of nodding or tipping your hat as a greeting. In the ranks of the military, it became the formal salute

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Earth Day, observed since 1970 (earthday.net). Some groups also celebrate Earth Day on the first day of spring. Some celebrate Earth Day every day.

Today is April Showers Day

1864: Congress authorized the use of the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. coins

On this day in 1878, the first Egg Roll was held on the grounds of the White House in Washington, DC. The first president on hand for the first Egg Roll was Rutherford B. Hayes. He and his wife Lucy made it an official event. It has been held every year since, except during the war years of WWI and WWII through 1953. The president who brought the tradition back in 1953 was Dwight D. Eisenhower.

1956 - Elvis Presley made his Las Vegas debut on this night at the Frontier Hotel. With Heartbreak Hotel at the top of the pop charts

TODAY’S SMILE

7-up for Friendship

1. Open up - Be honest, open and candid (tempered with kindness).

2. Stand up - For your friends, whether they are there or not.

3. Put up - Give your friend the freedom to be imperfect (like you!)

4. Speak up - Say what you feel; be generous with sincere (public/private) praise.

5. Show up - Be there; do what you say you'll do.

6. Make up - Don't hold a grudge; be the first to say, "I'm sorry, please forgive me."

7. Re-up - Take inventory and re-commit yourself to the friendship often.

Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.

Swedish proverb

TODAY’S WORD

habitue\huh-BICH-oo-ay; huh-bich-oo-AY\, noun:

One who habitually frequents a place

Habitue is from the past participle of French habituer

TODAY’S REFLECTION

I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

The story is told of a man on an African safari deep in the jungle. The guide before him had a machete and was whacking away the tall weeds and thick underbrush. The traveler, wearied and hot, asked in frustration, “Where are we? Do you know where you are taking me? Where is the path?”

The seasoned guide stopped and looked back at the man and replied, “I am the path.”

We ask God, “Where are you taking me? Where is the path?” And he, like the guide, doesn’t tell us. Oh, he may give us a hint or two, but that’s all. If he did, would we understand? Would we comprehend our location?

No, like the traveler, we are unacquainted with this jungle. So rather than give us an answer, Jesus gives us himself

1 of 365 devotionals in Grace for the Moment, Volume 2

By Max Lucado

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

The odor of the sweet pea is so offensive to flies that it will drive them out of a sick-room, though not in the slightest degree disagreeable to the patient.

A tip from The 1899 Old Farmer's Almanac

59 DAYS TIL SUMMER !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

Monday, April 21, 2008

The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others.

Vincent Van Gogh

TODAY’S ACTION

Boost someone’s spirit, and you will raise yours as well.

TODAY’S QUOTE

At the end of the day, you want to respect what you do. In a certain sense, our work is us. We get into it, and it gets into us.

John W. Rowe

HAPPY MONDAY !!

It was a grand 3 day weekend and there are pictures on my journal page ‘Good Morning Sunshine’ if you want to take a look. I’m sipping the hot coffee and trying to wake up, but it is very hard this morning.

I was up way too late trying to do things at home last night. I will certainly pay for my long weekend today as I go back to work and try to catch up there too. Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

GOD BLESS YOU !

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for

the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER… I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…JELLY BEAN DAY Jelly candies (sugar and flavored water) have been putting smiles on the faces of kids for centuries - starting with the Romans. When penny candy was popular during the 1800's, gumdrops and jelly beans were the biggest sellers - and nothing replaced them in popularity until people fell in love with the chocolate bar. Blueberry jelly beans were invented so President Reagan could serve red, white and blue jelly beans at his inaugural ball

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is Big Word Day, a day to use huge words on purpose just to impress yourself. Go on, you can do it

Today marks the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. They expect 20,000 runners, a half million on-lookers

Today is National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day

A man named Friedrich Froebel actually invented kindergarten. Little Freddie was born on this day in 1782 in Germany. He grew up to become a teacher, author and toy maker.

1783: Reginald Heber was born in England. He published his first hymn at age 28. His greatest hit: Holy, Holy, Holy

TODAY’S SMILE

A good piece of chocolate has about 200 calories. As I enjoy 2 servings per night, and a few more on weekends. I consume 3,500 calories of chocolate in a week, which equals one pound of weight per week. Therefore... In the last 3 1/2 years, I have had chocolate caloric intake of about 180 pounds, and I only weigh 165 pounds, so without chocolate, I would have wasted away to nothing about 3 months ago! I owe my life to chocolate.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1

Faith isn’t a skill that has to be learned. Faith is simply living each day as if you know that God is faithful in keeping his promises. When you act as if you have faith, you do everything with enthusiasm. If you are able to act with faith and enthusiasm during the good times, then you acquire the ability to act with faith and enthusiasm when facing the bad times. The bad times get worse when approached with doubt and fear. You'll be amazed at how much easier it is to triumph over problems with a hopeful, enthusiastic attitude.

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Apples and aged cheeses can reduce tooth plaque

60 DAYS TIL SUMMER !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Whether we are filled with joy or grief, our angels are close to us, speaking to our hearts of God's love

The Angels' Little Instruction Book

TODAY’S ACTION

Take a walk with a friend today and look around at Gods miracles

TODAY’S QUOTE

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light ... for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food ... and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks ... the fault lies with yourself.

Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

HAPPY THURSDAY !!

This evening after work I’ll be leaving for the camper for the weekend. So I’ll see you all again on Monday morning. I will have more pictures to share with you all I’m sure.

SATURDAY is both of my sister’s birthdays and I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTERS May the dear Lord bless you both today and always.

I do hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I’ll be back with my newsletter on Monday morning. The good Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

TODAY’S PRAYERS

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. GOD BLESS YOU!

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the ways that I will serve others in Your name

TO REMEMBER…

I am in the hands of God, and in God’s time all things will be made well.

TODAY IS…CHEESE BALL DAY

Yes, they are usually only seen on special occasions, but... why? Easy to make, a cheese ball can be a treat for your next night of cards or just a fun snack when renting a movie. Plan ahead so it has time to chill - then get your out favorite crackers and dig in!

PINEAPPLE CHEESE BALL

16oz. cream cheese, softened

8 1/2oz. can crushed pineapple, well drained

2 cups chopped pecans

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

2 Tablespoons green onion, chopped

1.Mix all ingredients together in a mixing bowl only 1/2 the nuts.

2. Shape into a ball and roll in the rest of the nuts (use a cookie sheet or waxed paper).

Today is Toothbrush Appreciation Day, a day to wonder how life would taste without your toothbrush

Today is National Cheeseball Day

Today is National High Five Day

Today is Daffy Duck Day. Daffy appeared in his first cartoon, "Porky's Duck Hunt," on April 17, 1937. He didn't get his name until he appeared in the 1938 short, "Daffy Duck and Egghead." In 1999, the U.S. Postal Service issued a new Daffy Duck stamp on his birthday.

Today is International Ford Mustang Day

1810: Lewis Norton of Troy, Pennsylvania, patented Pineapple Cheese

1964: At the New York World's Fair, Ford Motor Company introduced the Mustang. Base price was $2,368

1985: The U.S. Postal Service unveiled its new 22-cent "Love" stamp. Showing the set of TV’s The Love Boat as a backdrop, the stamp became one of the postal service’s biggest sellers

TODAY’S SMILE

A lady was throwing a party for her granddaughter, and had gone all out . . . a caterer, band, and a hired clown. Just before the party started, two bums showed up looking for a handout. Feeling sorry for the bums, the woman told them that she would give them a meal if they will help chop some wood for her out back.

Gratefully, they headed to the rear of the house. The guests arrived, and all was going well with the children having a wonderful time. But the clown hadn't shown up. After another half a hour, the clown finally called to report that he was stuck in traffic, and would probably not make the party at all.

The woman was very disappointed and unsuccessfully tried to entertain the children herself. She happened to look out the window and saw one of the bums doing cartwheels across the lawn. She watched in awe as he swung from tree branches, did midair flips, and leaped high in the air.

She spoke to the other bum and said, "What your friend is doing is absolutely marvelous. I have never seen such a thing. Do you think your friend would consider repeating this performance for the children at the party? I would pay him $50!"

The other bum says, "Well, I dunno. Let me ask him. HEY WILLIE! FOR $50, WOULD YOU CHOP OFF ANOTHER TOE?"

TODAY’S WORD

mendicant \MEN-dih-kunt\, noun:

1. A beggar; especially, one who makes a business of begging.

2. A member of an order of friars forbidden to acquire landed property and required to be supported by alms.

Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.

Matthew 10.32

We don't talk much about Heaven. And I suspect one reason is that Christ gave us so few details as to what it will be like. Some of the popular images of Heaven do it a disservice, I am certain.

I was amused to read something former Prime Minister Lloyd George once said about the celestial realm. He said, "When I was a boy the thought of heaven used to frighten me more than the thought of hell. I pictured heaven as a place where time would be perpetual Sundays, with perpetual services from which there would be no break. It was a horrible nightmare and made me an atheist for ten years."

None of our language about Heaven can possibly do it justice. Our minds are too small to get around the concept of eternity. There is only one thing we can say about Heaven. We will be united--with Christ and with those we love. The unity we have here is but a poor reflection of a more perfect unity there. http://www.devotions.net

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Till April’s dead, change not a thread

64 DAYS TIL SUMMER !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4

May there be a miracle in YOUR life today and may you have the EYES to SEE it!